Air distribution apparatus



H. F. BRUNS Dec. 9, 1969 AIR DI STRIBUTION APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 12, 1968 Dec. 9, 1969 H- F. BRuNs 3,482,506

AIR DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS Filed July 12, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

HERBERT F. BRUNS Dec.9, 1969 H-F-BRUNS A 3,482,506

AIR DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS Filed July 12. 1968 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,27 F:i -1 16 2s 2e 25 16 w n A will.

' INVENTOR. HERBERT F. BRUNS Dec. 9, 1969 BRUNS 7 3,482,506

AIR DI STRIBUTION APPARATUS Filed July 12, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR. HERBERT F. BRUNS f y d' H. F- BRUNS Dec. 9, 1969 AIRDISTRIBUTION A'PPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 12, 1968 INVENTOR.HERBERT FBRUNS BY v v United States Patent 3,482,506 AIR DISTRIBUTIONAPPARATUS Herbert F. Bruns, 3520 Segovia St, Coral Gables, Fla. 33134Filed July 12, 1968, Ser. No. 744,496 Int. Cl. F24f 13/06 U.S. CI. 98-404 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An air directing device forconnection to a substantially linear source of moving air for directingsame into a plurality of discrete and coplanar jet streams for movementin a planar form over a predetermined distance including the inducementof ambient air between the jet streams for forming, directing andcontrolling a nonturbulent planar blanket of coherent air havingsubstantially uniform predetermined thickness and lateral distribution.

This invention relates in general to devices for the control ofmotivated air and the predetermined controlled distribution of same andmore particularly to the con struction of an orifice means forconverting power motivated air into a predetermined coherent flowincluding the inducement and entrainment of ambient air for projectingplanar patterns over predetermined areas.

Prior air directing devices for distributing motivated air and inducingambient room air therein are relatively ineffective in uniformdraft-free distribution of cooled air in a predetermined zone and theseprior devices usually depend upon fixed or adjustable multiple spacedvanes for inducing and mixing ambient air therein, which devices arerelatively expensive to manufacture and fail to provide a non-turbulentrelatively coherent blanket of moving air which is attracted into closeproximity over ceilings and walls of rooms.

The present invention overcomes the above objections and disadvantagesby the provision of an air directing and controlling device forreceiving substantially linear moving air from a source, such as a duct,and directing same over angularly positioned pyramidal abutments havingadjacent oblique triangular impingement surfaces, the output of whichwill form a plurality of coherent jets of air in planar relation andsimultaneously induce ambient air in the spaces between the jets forforming and distributing a discrete coherent blanket of a relativelyhigh initial velocity non-turbulent mixture of air for delivery over avariable range of distances.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an airdistributing device for connection with high positioned wall outlets oroutlets in ceilings or room air conditioners for distributing cooled airin the form of a discrete coherent flow of predetermined thickness,spread and range, which in its movement will induce andentrain ambientair of the room therein and provide a blanket-like distribution ofcooled air over the entire ceiling of a room for complete mixing withthe room air in the upper portion of the room.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a plurality of airoutlets in a device adaptable to a variety of predetermined geometricshapes for producing a planar array of coherent jet streams for inducingambient air therein and for forming a coherent blanket of moving air inclose proximity to a wall or ceiling of a room when said device isconnected to an outlet of moving air,such as a duct, in a substantiallylinear flow, which blanket adheres to plane surfaces, commonly knownasthe Coanda or wall effect."

A further object of the invention is the-provision of an airdistributing device having a plurality of adjacent ice cells containingtriangular oblique surfaces with each of said surfaces in each cellformed at a different transverse angle for distributing a blanket of airof substantially uniform thickness over a relatively wide angulartransverse area.

These and other objects and advantages in five embodiments of theinvention are described and shown in the following specification anddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front outlet elevation of a pair of airdistribution cells.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear inlet elevation of the cells shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary partly exploded view of the elements shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional plan view taken through sectionline 4-4, FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional end elevation taken through section line 55,FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view of the operation of three cells, shown inFIGS. 1 and 5, illustrating the input and output flow of air.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the air flow illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front outlet elevation of an alternate form of apair of air distribution cells.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary rear inlet elevation of the cells shown in FIG.8.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional plan view taken through section line 1010,FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional end elevation taken through section line1111, FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective partly exploded view of the cellsshown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 illustrates a plan view of the air flow of the cells shown inFIG. 8.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of the air flow illustrated in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a front elevation of an elementary form of the airdistributing device.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary cross sectional plan view taken through sectionline 1616, FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional end elevation taken through section line1717, FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device shown in FIG.15.

FIG. 19 is a plan view illustrating the air flow in a device such asshown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a side elevation of the air flow shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary front outlet elevation of an alternate conicalform of a pair of air distribution cells.

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary cross sectional plan view taken through sectionline 22-22, FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a cross sectional side elevation taken through section line2323, FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a front elevation of a plurality of air distributing cellsfor the transverse distribution of air.

FIG. 25 is a cross sectional plan view taken through section line 2525,FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a cross sectional end elevation taken through section line26-26, FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a cross sectional end view taken through section line 27-27,FIG. 24.

FIG. 28 illustrates a ceiling outlet formed from four of the devicesshown in FIG. 24, illustrating the distribution of air flow alongthe'ceiling of a room, in reduced scale.

FIGS. 1 through 5 illustrate a small portion of a cellular device forproducing and directing coherent jets of air from the outlet sidethereof from power motivated air entering the inlet side and inducingand entraining ambientair in, around and between the jet streams forforming a discrete and coherent blanket of projected air with rela- 3tively rapid blending with the ambient air in the room or enclosure.

FIG. 1 is a front outlet elevation of two cells of the device formed bytwo planar parallel spaced lower and upper frame members 1 and 2separated by three equispaced partitions 3, in normal relation to themembers 1 and 2, forming the outlet side of the two cells. FIG. 2 showsthe rear inlet elevation of the cells shown in FIG. 1.

The partly exploded view, FIG. 3, illustrates the frame members 1 and 2and the partitions 3. A pair of like irregular tetrahedrons 4 and aresecured in the corners of one side of each partition 3, and the members1 and 2, as illustrated.

The adjacent apexes of each tetrahedron at the outlet side of each cellare in close proximity or in contact at a junction 6, shown in FIGS. 1,3, and 5, at a central position of the partition 3, thus forming upperand lower triangular impingement surfaces 7 and 8, respectively, bettershown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates the position of a pair of lower tetrahedrons 5 withrespect to the partitions 3 and the frame member 1. The cross sectionalview, FIG. 5, illustrates the relationship of the tetrahedrons 4 and 5with respect to one side of a partition 3 and the frame members 1 and 2and further illustrates the junction 6 at the adjacent apexes of thetriangular impingement surfaces 7 and 8.

It is now apparent that when a substantially uniform linear flow of airis caused to enter the inlet side of the two cells, shown in FIG. 2, aportion of the air will impinge against the oblique triangular surfaces7 and 8 and form a jet stream with high concentration in the triangularoutlet area formed by the forward adjacent vertexes of the adjacenttetrahedrons, which will produce a diminishing velocity gradientextending to the inner side of the adjacent partition 3 and against theexposed portions of the inner sides of frame members 1 and 2. Thegeneral direction of flow of both input and output air is shown in FIG.4 and the formation of the output blanket of coherent air is formed bythe induction in the space between the jet streams of a portion of theinput air and a portion of the ambient air. FIG. 5 is an approximateillustration of the relative density of the output air flow and thedirection thereof.

FIGS. 6 and 7 represent a unit 9 of three of the cells shown in FIG. 1and a source of input moving air 10 directed into the input of the cellsshowing a blanket of output coherent air 11 in width and thickness.

The close dash lines of the air 11 are intended to illustrate the spacedcoherent jets of air from the triangular outlet area beginning atjunction 6 and the remainder of the air from each cell, together withinduced static ambient air, such as ordinarily present in a room. It isto be noted that the induction and entrainment of ambient room airoccurs immediately upon the jet streams leaving the triangular orifices.

FIG. 8 is a front outlet elevation of two cells formed by two planarparallel spaced members 12 and 13 separated by three equi-spacedpartitions 14 forming the outlet side of the two cells. FIG. 9 shows therear inlet elevation of the cells shown in FIG. 8.

The partly exploded view, FIG. 12, shows the frame members 12 and 13 andthe partitions 14 including a pair of like irregular tetrahedrons 15 and16 secured on the inner side of frame member 13, as illustrated.

It is to be noted that each pair of tetrahedrons 15 and 16 are fittedand secured in the lower corners of the junction of each partition andthe frame member 13.

The adjacent apexes of each tetrahedron at the outlet side of each cellare in close proximity or in contact at a junction 17, as shown, in thecentral position of the frame member 13 of the cell, thus formingtriangular impingement surfaces 18 and 19, respectively, better shown inFIG. 10. The cross sectional view, FIG. 10, shows the relation of eachpair of tetrahedrons 15 and 16 within each cell with respect to theframe member 13. FIG. 10

also illustrates air of substantially uniform velocity entering theinlet side of the cells and an approximate view of the relative densityand direction of air flow from the outlet side. The general side view ofthe direction of flow of air from each cell is also illustrated in FIG.11.

FIG. 13 illustrates a plan view of a source of moving air 20 directedinto a unit of a pair of cells 21, such as shown in FIGS. 8-1 1, and theflow of the output of air 22, shown in close dash lines. The output air,like that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is a combination of coherent jetstreams formed in the area of the open triangular outlets beginning atthe junctions 17 and the remainder of the air flowing through each cell,which will be augmented at the outlet side of the device by theinduction of ambient room air around and between the jet streams,forming the coherent blanket of output air 22, which is illustrated inFIGS. 13 and 14.

It is to be noted that the tetrahedrons 4 and 5 and 15 and 16, shown inFIGS. 1 and 8, respectively, are secured in the position shown forclarity and the convenient model construction, particularly for theinterchange of tetrahedrons of different angles to obtain differentshapes and ranges of output air when the triangular impingement surfacesare subject to velocities of input air.

In a preferred reduction to practice, an entire group of cells andintegral impingement angles may be molded from plastic material orformed from metal by well known means which will provide the cavities 4aand 5a, illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 1. Likewise, the impingementsurfaces 18 and 19 may be formed by integral well known moldingprocesses to form cavities 18a and 19a, illustrated by broken lines inFIGS. 8 and 12.

FIGS. 15 through 18 show a simplified alternate construction forproducing a device forming the aforesaid coherent jet stream phenomenawhich is effective for producing a limited form of a moving blanket ofcoherent air, as compared to the previously described cellular devicesand is more dependent upon the shape and close proximity of the orificefor delivering air to the device, which is represented by a duct 23,shown in broken lines in FIGS. 17, 19 and 20.

Furthermore, FIGS. 15 through 18 show a base 24 having a planar uppersurface on which adjacent angular projections form the impingementsurfaces 25 and 26 of pyramidal triangular shape which are formedintegral with base 24, as shown.

FIGS. 15, 17, and 18 also illustrate in broken lines an upper planar topmember 27 which may be positioned in predetermined spaced relation tothe top of the impingement surfaces, as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 17,thus improving the control of the output air pattern, to be hereinafterdescribed.

It is to be noted that the triangular projections form channels 28 asdescribed in previous figures.

FIG. 17 illustrates a source of air of substantially uniform velocityfrom the duct 23 which will impinge upon the surfaces 25 and 26 andproduce coherent jets in the triangular open area between these surfacesbeginning at the junction 28.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the simplified form of the device inwhich member 27 may or may not be used therewith.

FIG. 19 illustrates the operation of a device 29, shown in FIGS. 15through 18 with a top member 27 in place with the input air supplied bythe duct 23 and the output in the form a blanket of coherent air 30,which will include induced ambient air immediately therein at the outputside of the device to form a controlled uniform a controlled uniformblanket of output air. FIG. 20 illustrates a side cross sectional viewof the air fiow shown in FIG. 19. It has been found that in the absenceof member 27, the air 30 will move upward at a greater ang e.

It is to be noted that the angles of the tetrahedrons (used forconvenience) and the resulting impingment triangular surfaces, shown inFIGS. 1 through 20, are functionally representative, however the anglesmay be modified to produce predetermined different modes of operation.

It is also to be noted in this particular embodiment, that the lateralprojection of the blanket output of air from the device shown in FIG. 1is approximately fifteen degrees with respect to the partitions in eachcell.

In the device shown in FIG. 8, the same angles are applied to theimpingement surfaces but the lateral projection of the output blanket ofair is parallel to the ridge of the projections whereas in the side viewthe blanket of air projects upward approximately fifteen degrees withrespect to the base of the cell. This particular phenomena varies inaccordance with the selection of the angles of the pyramidal impingementsurfaces and the angle at which air enters the input side of the device.

This invention also comprehends alternate construction shown in FIGS.21, 22, and 23, in which the arcuate conical upper and lower members 31and 32 are secured in spaced relation, as shown, with the vertical cellpartitions 33 positioned substantially radial with respect to the centerof the radius of the conical members 31 and 32, and with the triangularimpingement surfaces 34 shown for convenience formed by tetrahedrons 35.

Thus it is apparent that air distributing devices may be made arcuate orcircular for use in a corner or ceiling of a room or for wide angle orcircular coherent air'distribution along a ceiling or in a downwardangle therefrom.

It is to be noted that the upper and lower members 31 and 32 and any oneor more of the previously described upper and lower members may be ofdifferent width or be positioned a predetermined angle therebetween, asshown by broken lines 36, for various particular uses without departingfrom the principle or peration of the device.

It is also to be noted that the triangular impingement surfaces in anyof the forms shown may be slightly convex or concave, as illustrated inbroken lines in FIGS. 21 and 22, for producing slight modifications inthe coherent distribution patterns of the device.

FIGS. 24-27 show a linear form of air distributing device having anadjacent plurality of cells for converting a substantially linear inputflow of air into a wide lateral coherent blanket of coherent air. Likeprevious embodiments, the device includes lower and upper members 37 and38, which include fixed partitions 39 substantially alike but positioneddivergent from a center position of the members into increasinglydivergent acute angles, as shown.

Referring to FIG. '24, from center to left of the members 37 and 38, apair of like tetrahedrons 40 are secured in the left corners of thepartitions 39 and the upper and lower members, as shown. A like numberof tetrahedrons are secured in the right corners of the right handpartitions 39, as shown, which form two sets of divergent impingementtriangles 41, better shown in FIG. 25, with the outer adjacent vertex ofeach pair of tetrahedrons 40 forming a junction 42, as shown. FIG. 25shows three left and three right tetrahedrons which have space fillers40s on the outside ends thereof.

As previously mentioned, the use of tetrahedrons and the frontal fillerstherefor provide a convenient way to form the impingement triangularsurfaces, which surfaces provide representative functional performanceof the device.

FIG. 25 illustrates, by uniformly positioned arrows, the flow of air ofsubstantially uniform velocity into the input side of the device and thedivergent arrows indicate the transverse outlet flow resulting from theformation of jet streams by impingement against the triangules 41.

FIGS. 26 and 27 represent by arrows the input and output flow showingthe relative central density resulting from the aforesaid impingementphenomena.

FIG. 28 illustrates four rectangular devices 43 like that described andshown in FIG. 24, positioned in a rectangle to accept a flow of air froma duct 44 for distributing air substantially equally across the ceilingof a room, outlined by solid broken lines 45 with only one quarter ofthe coherent blanket of air 46 coherently projected over one quarter ofthe ceiling of the room.

It has been found that a relatively wide range of air velocities may beprojected from apparatus of the character described ranging fromapproximately 500 to 2,000 feet per minute, with the velocity of theinput air somewhat less due to the presence of the impingementtriangles.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an air distributing apparatus of the character described a lowerair guide member of predetermined width having:

a planar upper guide surface,

an upper air guide member of predetermined width positioned in uniformspaced relation with said lower air guide member and having a planarlower surface,

a pair of partitions of predetermined height positioned in substantiallyparallel spaced relation integral with and in normal relation betweensaid lower and said upper member forming the walls of an air projectioncell having an input and output side,

a lower triangular impingement member with the triangular surfacethereof diagonally spanned across the lower junction of said lowermember and one of said partitions with the two opposite sides of thesaid triangular surface in angular junction with the said surface ofsaid lower member and the surface of said one of said partitions andwith the vertex of the said two sides of said triangular surface inclose proximity to the input side of said cell, and

an upper triangular impingement member with the triangular surfacethereof diagonally spanned across the upper junction of said uppermember and the said one of said partitions with the two sides of thesaid triangular surface in angular junction with the surface of saidupper member and the said surface of the said one of said partitions andthe vertex of the said two sides in close proximity to the input side ofsaid upper member and with the vertex formed by one said side and thebase side of each triangular surface in close proximity with each otherforming a horizontal V outlet in said cell whereby motivated air flowinginto said input side of said members and into said cell will flowthrough same and impinge against the said triangular surfaces and form acoherent jet stream of air from said cell in a substantially straightlinear vertical direction therefrom and at a predetermined horizontalangle therefrom.

2. The construction recited in claim 1 including:

elongated said lower and upper members with a plurality of said cellspositioned in adjacent relation therebetween,

an elongated orifice means positioned adjacent the said input side ofsaid cells for conducting substantially linear motivated air therein,

a source of substantially linear motivated air connected to said orificemeans whereby the output side of said cells will project a likeplurality of substantially coherent jet streams of air in spacedrelation and whereby said streams of air will induce ambient room airtherebetween to concurrently form a blanket of moving air ofsubstantially uniform thickness and width flowing in a linear directionfrom said cells and at a predetermined angle transverse said partitions.

3. In air distributing apparatus of the character described a lowermember of predetermined width having a planar upper surface and an airinput side,

an upper member of pretedermined width in uniform spaced relation withsaid lower member having a planar lower surface and a corresponding airinput side,

a left and right partition of predetermined width positioned insubstantially parallel spaced relation integral with and between saidlower member and said upper member and substantially normal theretoforming the walls of a substantially rectangular air projection cell,

a left hand triangular impingement member with the triangular surfacethereof diagonally spanned across the left junction of said lower memberand the said left partition with the two sides of said triangularsurface in angular junction with the said surface of said lower memberand the surface of the said left partition and with the vertex of thesaid two sides in close proximity to the input side of said lower member,

a right hand triangular impingement member with the triangular surfacethereof diagonally spanned across the right hand junction of said lowermember and the said right hand partition with the two sides of saidtriangular surface in angular junction with the surface of said lowermember and the surface of said right hand partition and the vertex ofthe said two sides in close proximity to the input side of said lowermember with the vertex formed by one said side and the base side of eachsaid triangular sur-.

face in close proximity with each other forming a vertical V outlet insaid cell whereby substantially linear motivated air flowing betweensaid input side of said members will impinge against the said triangularsurfaces and form a coherent jet stream of air from said cell in astraight linear direction from said cell with a predetermined upwardangle with respect thereto. 4. The construction recited in claim 3including said lower and upper members formed of arcuate shape oflikelpredetermined curvature related to radii a predetermined distancefrom the said input sides of said members with a plurality of partitionsin predetermined spaced normal relation between said members andpositioned substantially radial to said radii forming a plurality oflaterally divergent air projection cells,

an elongated arcuate orifice means vof said like curvature positionedadjacent the said input side of said members for conductingsubstantially linear motivated air into said cells,

a source of .substantially linear motivated air connected to saidorifice means whereby the output side of said cells will project a likeplurality of substantially coherent jet streams of air in an angulardivergent spaced relation and whereby said streams of air will induceambient room air therebetween to concurrently form a blanket of coherentmoving air in a relatively wide lateral angle of substantially uniformthickness flowing from said cells.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1966 Kennedy 9840 WILLIAM E.WAYNER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

